Generations Expectation's | 8th member of BTS

60

Ae Cha's POV

The rest of the evening unfolded like a dream, soft and seamless, without a single hiccup to pull me out of the glow. Not long after our awkward encounter with Reese and Eliza, the dinner and the couple's grand entrance were announced.

The room quieted before erupting into cheers as Pablo and Lulu entered the venue, hand in hand, bathed in golden light. Everyone clapped and hollered, a wave of love and celebration echoing off the walls. Pablo looked proud, more than that, he looked stunned in the best way, like he couldn't believe his bride was real. Lulu, radiant and glowing, looked like she had been waiting her whole life for this exact moment.

They made their way to the center of the dance floor so effortlessly, so naturally. His hand never left hers, and when he gently pulled her in, pressing her close to him as the opening notes of a gentle melody filled the space, I felt my eyes sting again. Their first dance song was slow, and I watched the way they swayed, locked in their little world. It was beautiful. Intimate. Everything a first dance should be. Jungkook and I were seated at a round table nearby, close enough to see their expressions clearly, the way Lulu whispered something in Pablo's ear and made him laugh through his emotions. Around us sat a handful of guests we didn't know, other twenty-somethings who must've been friends of the couple I hadn't crossed paths with yet. We exchanged a few polite smiles and nods, the kind of quiet acknowledgment you offer when you're all sharing a space but living your own evening.

After the first dance ended and the applause began again, conversation picked up, and so did the clinking of glasses and the scent of dinner being served.

Plates arrived, and everyone turned their attention to eating. Most of the couples at our table leaned in toward one another, heads ducked together as they shared their time. And then there was Jungkook and me sharing small laughs, half-whispers, trading bites off each other's plates when something looked too good not to try.

I couldn't keep my eyes off him. The soft lighting made the lines of his jaw look even sharper, but his expressions were all softness and gentle glances, little smirks, his hand occasionally brushing close to mine. This was not the bunny boy I met all those years ago. I couldn't believe how grown up he has become, both of us. Time seemed to move so fast nowadays. 

The conversation between us was easy. Effortless. We laughed more than we spoke, and every time his knee nudged mine under the table, I felt like I was floating.

Knowing now that this was a date that he had called it that, twice, yet I couldn't help but compare it to the others I'd been on before. None of them measured up. This was... warm. Simple. Sweet. And yet it was making my heart beat like crazy. This wasn't some grand, flashy thing. It was dinner, conversation, and laughter. But it was with him.

And I had to admit this was one of the nicest dates I'd ever been on. Maybe the nicest.

Soon, the reception buzzed with music and full party swing energy as Lulu and Pablo began making their rounds, weaving through tables like night air spilling through open doors. Guests lit up as they approached, arms opening wide, laughter rising into the air with every stop. Their happiness was contagious. It radiated off them in waves. People leaned in close, wanting to soak up every ounce of it, eager to congratulate them, to bask in their moment. People on the dance floor and bar even stopped what they were doing to approach the happy couple. 

Jungkook and I remained at our table, content in our little bubble, sipping the last of our drinks and exchanging conversation as we watched the newlyweds greet guest after guest. They moved with ease, slipping into conversations with childhood friends, coworkers, and extended family. Everyone wanted a moment with them, of course, they did. It was their day, and somehow they still made everyone else feel special.